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Upper Peninsula Veterinary Service & ThunderPaws Boarding

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Upper Peninsula Veterinary Service & ThunderPaws Boarding

Upper Peninsula Veterinary Service is a mixed animal veterinary service, providing routine and emergency care with ThunderPaws boarding service on site

12/25/2025

Charlie says, 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' from all of us!!

12/23/2025

I frequently use our misfortunate or uncomfortable situations at Rusty Belle Farm or Upper Peninsula Veterinary Service & ThunderPaws Boarding as an opportunity for education...

Last week Friday, I received an email from the Michigan Department of Agriculture--one of those that makes your guts twist as you read it. An ANONYMOUS complaint had been sent to them, claiming we were driving around the state selling beef out of our truck (see attached).
When in reality, I had stopped at a gas station to divvy out my parents' portion, which was heading south with the boys. I posted on Facebook a picture of my truck packed full of meat, reminding people with preorders I was en route to the office for pick ups as planned.

The complaint was unfounded. After a short conversation with MDARD this morning, what I did was completely LEGAL.
1). Live animals were delivered to processor.
2). All beef was accounted for on pre-orders.
3). It was picked up from processor and I had a prearranged meeting time & location for everyone to get theirs.
4). I NEVER sold beef to the public from my truck.
5). NONE of the beef was housed in our personal freezer for sale at a later date.

Unfortunately, MDARD has no way to follow up and tell them their accusations were spurious. On their end, no further action needed. But this accusation feels personal--vindictive. Not only did the complaint target my farm but also made reference to my integrity as a veterinarian. That as a vet, I was knowingly breaking the law.

I found a small amount of solace today when a friend pointed out: instead of owing an unjustified allegation it was easier for them to hide behind 'anonymous'... just in case.

12/16/2025

From Tues Dec 23 until Sunday Jan 4th, Upper Peninsula Veterinary Service will be functioning in the capacity of EMERGENCY services only. Office will reopen Monday Jan 5th at 8a.

In the event of a situation during these dates, requiring urgent intervention, please call 906.399.2043 and listen to the voicemail directions.
We are NOT out town. We ARE available if needed. However, we not be in the office to schedule appointments, fill prescriptions, etc. Please make arrangements in the next few days to handle those non urgent matters.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

12/12/2025

Maple cream! One of the things Rusty Belle Farm will be having at our sale at Upper Peninsula Veterinary Service & ThunderPaws Boarding after 1:30 today!
Come see us for other farm related products!

12/02/2025

If I'm still losing sleep over something that happened days ago... it usually means I need to write it out...

After nearly 20y in this profession & 6y of owning my own business, far too often, I have to ask myself: which battles will help win the war?

Yesterday, 10 letters for past due accounts went out. I have been emailing the the account holder every 15 days with no response.
5 of them had service more than 90 days ago and now owe for initial and several months of finance fees. This is the final notice before certified letters and small claims--for which their will be more fees & time expended.

And the other 5 squandered my time. 3 requested appointments, knowing our scheduling policy, and still didn't show. Two were 9a appointments. One was a 2 pet annual visit. Not one of them called to apologize for missing their scheduled time. That missed appointment is time wasted. Wasted on going through the schedule finding time that works for THEIR life. Wasted on putting info in the system as a new client. Wasted on waiting, especially if there happened to be a same day emergency needing to be seen. Wasted...

The others... they all called outside of regular business hours and asked for time out of my personal life. They listened to the first voicemail about after-hours calls. They then choose to call through on the emergency only line. They again listening to the message detailing the requirements for being seen after-hours and left a message requesting a call back. The message is very clear, if you leave a request on the emergency line there is an after-hours consultant fee if you're not seen as an emergency. Now 30 days or more later, after giving them time from my personal life & professional recommendation, they don't feel compensation is necessary...

Before you think to yourself, 'it is part of doing business, things come up or she signed on for this, what'd she expect?'. Stop for a minute and think of how YOU feel when someone else has no regard for the time you've given them? You feel disrespected; Makes you resentful. You take measures to protect yourself from repeat occurrences. You decline to give more of something that wasn't appreciated in the first place...

Veterinary professionals are fixers, givers, helpers... and those of us with boots on the ground are exhausted. There aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things needing done, but yet we keep trying... until we can't. Read that again: until we can't.

In my case, the people with outstanding accounts and unwillingness to rectify, are on their way to becoming NO SERVICE. Like no service at all; not if you pay, not if you say you're sorry--just SOL.
Sometimes the way you win a war, is by no longer fighting a battle but instead, walking away...
Not everyone deserves your time.

11/20/2025

Google says: 283 days.
In school we learned 285.
But there are some breed differences.
For example, on a whole, Brown Swiss easily add 10-14 days. Then if a heifer, first timer, add another 10-14 days. So up to another month!

Facts for fun:
Without googling... what's a cow's gestation length?

11/17/2025

Hey, just us sisters catching up on our napping... and we've been disturbed to remind you...

Our office lines, including boarding are NOT set receive incoming texts. If you need assistance, please call.
Email is checked only business hours and with no regularity. We have had several people send email over the last few weeks for different requests. We simply can't spend the time corresponding back & forth, via email about appointment availability, medication refills, etc. Just call--leave a message if we are unavailable & we'll get back with you.

11/05/2025

Yes--gastropexy
'Stomach tacking' will not prevent bloating but prevents flipping--gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).

Gastropexy was first done in 1971 to treat gastric reflux. It was not until 1979 that it was used for treatment and prevention of gastric dilatation volvulus.

We have no idea what actually causes a dog to develop a GDV but there are some known risk factors.
#1 deep chested breeds: Great Danes, German shorthair pointers, Poodles...& yes, Setters.

I've done corrective surgery on a several of the above and...Saint Bernard, Giant mix, Corgi puppy, Labrador...

But it can happen to anybody, I know of it in a: cat, Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever...

Address

11138W Tanquay Road
Cooks, MI
49817

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